Image forming apparatus and light scanning apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus has a photo sensitive body that includes a light source that scans light to the photo sensitive body; a frame supporting the light source and formed with a hole; a light interceptor that is disposed on a light traveling path of the light source and that is disposed in the hole so that it can be moved between an intercepting position in which the light from the light source is intercepted and a withdrawn position in which the light interceptor is withdrawn from the intercepting position and in which the light from the light source is not intercepted; and a sealing member that seals the hole while allowing the light interceptor to move in the hole. Thus, the image forming apparatus and a light scanning apparatus can prevent a contaminated image from being generated.

1 . An image forming apparatus having a photosensitive body, comprising: 
 a light source that scans light to the photosensitive body;    a frame supporting the light source and formed with a hole;    a light interceptor that is disposed on a light traveling path of light from the light source and that is disposed in the hole so as to be movable between an intercepting position in which the light from the light source is intercepted and a withdrawn position in which the light interceptor is withdrawn from the intercepting position; and    a sealing member that seals the hole while allowing the light interceptor to be moved in the hole.    
   
   
       2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a polygon mirror that diffuses and reflects light from the light source in a specific direction, and wherein the light interceptor intercepts the light from the light source on the light traveling path between the light source and the polygon mirror.  
   
   
       3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a cylindrical lens between light source and the polygon mirror and wherein the light interceptor intercepts light between the cylindrical lens and the polygon mirror.  
   
   
       4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a polygon mirror that diffuses and reflects light from the light source in a specific direction and a scanning lens disposed between the polygon mirror and the photo sensitive body to converge the light reflected from the polygon mirror in a specific direction, and wherein the light interceptor intercepts light from the light source on the light traveling path between the polygon mirror and the scanning lens.  
   
   
       5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a scanning lens that converges light from the light source in a specific direction and a reflecting mirror disposed between the scanning lens and the photo sensitive body to reflect the light from the light source part in a specific direction, and wherein the light interceptor intercepts light from the light source on the light traveling path between the scanning lens and the reflecting mirror.  
   
   
       6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member seals the hole so that the light interceptor can be surrounded by the sealing member, and wherein the sealing member is made from a flexible material.  
   
   
       7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the sealing material is made from sponge or tape.  
   
   
       8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is disposed between the light interceptor and the frame to seal a clearance formed around the light interceptor received in the hole, and wherein the sealing member is made from a flexible material.  
   
   
       9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the light interceptor is rotatably combined with the frame for rotating between the intercepting position and the withdrawn position.  
   
   
       10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the light interceptor has a light slit through which light from the light source passes when the light interceptor is located at the withdrawn position.  
   
   
       11 . An image forming apparatus including a photo sensitive body, a main body housing that receives the photo sensitive body and a cover that rotates for opening and/or closing the main body housing, comprising: 
 a light source that scans light to the photo sensitive body;    a frame supporting the light source and formed with a hole;    a light interceptor that is disposed on a light traveling path of the light source part and that is disposed in the hole so as to be movable between an intercepting position in which light from the light source is intercepted and a withdrawn position in which the light interceptor is withdrawn from the intercepting position; and    a sealing member that seals the hole while allowing the light interceptor to be moved in the hole,    wherein the cover comprises a first actuator that actuates the light interceptor to cause the light interceptor to be located at the intercepting position when the main body housing is opened by a rotation of the cover, and to cause the light interceptor to be located at the withdrawn position when the main body housing is closed by a rotation of the cover.    
   
   
       12 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the actuator comprises a switching device comprising a solenoid valve.  
   
   
       13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising an elastic member that presses the light interceptor to move the light interceptor from the withdrawn position to the intercepting position.  
   
   
       14 . An image forming apparatus having a main body housing and a developer provided with a photo sensitive body and being attachable to and detachable from the main body housing, comprising: 
 a light source that scans light to the photo sensitive body;    a frame that supports the light source and that is formed with a hole;    a light interceptor that is disposed on a light traveling path of the light source and that is disposed in the hole so as to be movable between an intercepting position in which light from the light source is intercepted and a withdrawn position in which light intercepting part is withdrawn from the intercepting position; and    a sealing member that seals the hole while allowing the light interceptor to be moved in the hole,    wherein the developer comprises a second actuator that actuates the light interceptor and causes the light interceptor to be located at the withdrawn position when the developer is mounted to the main body housing, and that causes the light interceptor to be located at the intercepting position when the developer is detached from the main body housing.    
   
   
       15 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising an elastic member that applies pressure to the light interceptor to move the interceptor from the withdrawn position to the intercepting position.  
   
   
       16 . A light scanning apparatus, comprising: 
 a light source;    a frame supporting the light source and formed with a hole;    a light interceptor that is disposed on a light traveling path of the light source and that is disposed in the hole so that it can be moved between an intercepting position in which the light from the light source is intercepted and a withdrawn position in which the light interceptor is withdrawn from the intercepting position; and    a sealing member sealing the hole while allowing the light interceptor to be moved in the hole.    
   
   
       17 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a photo sensitive body;    a main body housing that receives the photo sensitive body;    a cover that rotates for opening and closing the main body housing;    a light source that scans light to the photosensitive body;    a frame that supports and encloses the light source, wherein the frame defines an interior that contains the light source and a light traveling path of light from the light source, and wherein the frame includes a stationary portion and a movable portion;    a light interceptor that is disposed on the light traveling path, wherein the light interceptor is coupled with or integrally formed with the movable portion of the frame so that the light interceptor is movable between an intercepting position in which the light from the light source is intercepted and a withdrawn position in which the light interceptor does not intercept light from the light source and wherein a gap or clearance is defined between the stationary portion and the movable portion of the frame when the light interceptor is in the intercepting position and/or when the light interceptor is in the withdrawn position;    a flexible sealing member that seals the gap or clearance to prevent ambient particulates from entering the interior of the frame, and    wherein the cover comprises an actuator that actuates the light interceptor to cause the light interceptor to be located at the intercepting position when the main body housing is opened by a rotation of the cover, and to cause the light interceptor to be located at the withdrawn position when the main body housing is closed by a rotation of the cover.    
   
   
       18 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a main body housing;    a developer provided with a photo sensitive body and being attachable to and detachable from the main body housing;    a light source that scans light to the photosensitive body;    a frame that supports and encloses the light source, wherein the frame defines an interior that contains the light source and a light traveling path of light from the light source, and wherein the frame includes a stationary portion and a movable portion;    a light interceptor that is disposed on the light traveling path, wherein the light interceptor is coupled with or integrally formed with the movable portion of the frame so that the light interceptor is movable between an intercepting position in which the light from the light source is intercepted and a withdrawn position in which the light interceptor does not intercept light from the light source and wherein a gap or clearance is defined between the stationary portion and the movable portion of the frame when the light interceptor is in the intercepting position and/or when the light interceptor is in the withdrawn position;    a flexible sealing member that seals the gap or clearance to prevent ambient particulates from entering the interior of the frame, and    wherein the developer comprises an actuator that actuates the light interceptor and causes the light interceptor to be located at the withdrawn position when the developer is mounted to the main body housing, and that causes the light interceptor to be located at the intercepting position when the developer is detached from the main body housing.    
   
   
       19 . A light scanning apparatus, comprising: 
 a light source;    a frame that supports and encloses the light source, wherein the frame defines an interior that contains the light source and a light traveling path of light from the light source, and wherein the frame includes a stationary portion and a movable portion;    a light interceptor that is disposed on the light traveling path, wherein the light interceptor is coupled with or integrally formed with the movable portion of the frame so that the light interceptor is movable between an intercepting position in which the light from the light source is intercepted and a withdrawn position in which the light interceptor does not intercept light from the light source and wherein a gap or clearance is defined between the stationary portion and the movable portion of the frame when the light interceptor is in the intercepting position and/or when the light interceptor is in the withdrawn position; and    a flexible sealing member that seals the gap or clearance.